Asa Taccone

Asa Taccone (born September 20, 1983) is an American musician, songwriter, producer, and frontman of the band Electric Guest with whom he has released three albums since 2012. He is noted as a close collaborator of The Lonely Island and has contributed to their musical work on ''Saturday Night Live'' and a number of their films. He also has written music for other comedy film and television projects including '' American Dad!'' and ''Portlandia''.

Early life

Asa Taccone was born on September 21, 1983, the second son of Suellen Ehnebuske and Tony Taccone (a theater director) in Berkeley, California. His brother is Jorma Taccone, a former writer for ''Saturday Night Live'' and one third of the comedy music trio The Lonely Island. He is of mixed Italian and Puerto Rican ancestry on his father's side.Hurwitt, Robert (July 5, 2006)
"Tony Taccone: Riding high on his recent successes, theater veteran has big plans for Berkeley Rep"
''Chronicle Theater Critic''. Retrieved February 22, 2016.

His interest in music began playing trumpet in his elementary school choir during religious holidays; the choir director included a bongo section where he and other children could sing and play the drums. During high school, he became interested in jazz, continuing to play trumpet in the band.Shedden, Iain (June 16, 2012)
"Nice and cheesy"
''The Australian'' :10 Taccone was eventually kicked out of his high school, and sent to a boot camp that he could only leave on the weekends.SWIFT, JACQUI (April 19, 2013), "WELCOME GUEST". ''The Sun'' :55

While there, he began to frequent a local Dunkin Donuts. There, he met an elderly woman who remarked that he was "an electric guest of the universe."Gotch, Kristin (May 7, 2012)
"An Interview with Electric Guest"
PopMatters. Retrieved February 23, 2016.

Career

Taccone had long been a fan of hip/hop music, and was influenced by Bay Area rappers like Souls Of Mischief, E-40, and Mac Dre.Kauffman, Alexia (May 3, 2012)
"Q&A with Electric Guest"
''We Love DC''. Retrieved February 22, 2016. He moved on to synths and started producing hip/hop music, however, he eventually grew weary of the "bullshit" of the hip-hop world.

One day — while visiting an incarcerated friend — another inmate recognized Taccone, requesting that they work together after his release. The incident rattled Taccone, and he left the genre for good. His already budding interest in 1960s music increased, and he began making music that stemmed from that era.

Taccone's older brother, Jorma, joined the writing staff of ''Saturday Night Live'' in 2005, and enlisted Asa in composing music for the show's Digital Shorts performed by his comedy group The Lonely Island.Beer, Jeff (May 19, 2009)
"Black Iris' Asa Taccone Talks SNL Skit Soundtracks"
Adage.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.

Jorma asked his friend Brian Burton (professionally known as Danger Mouse) to listen to some of Asa's music over the phone. Burton provided positive feedback, encouraging the younger Taccone to continue making music. At the age of 24, Asa made the move from his hometown to Los Angeles to pursue a music career.Mathieson, Craig (July 27, 2012), "Depths of their soul". ''The Sydney Morning Herald''. :Metro, 5. Burton recommended that Asa take his former room in a boarding house full of musicians.''Rolling Stone'' staff (April 11, 2012)
"Danger Mouse Reveals Why He Produced Electric Guest's Debut Album"
''Rolling Stone''. Retrieved February 25, 2016.

Initially, Taccone found it difficult to collaborate with others creatively, after years of writing alone. He kept "grinding", producing and writing music for projects that included Digital Shorts on comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'', as well as scores for his father's theatrical productions, making enough money to support himself and his own music. He wrote music for Lady Gaga’s episode on ''The Simpsons'', Kanye West’s episode on ''The Cleveland Show'', as well as Charles Bradley and The Weeknd's episodes on ''American Dad''. Taccone was a co-writer and co-producer on the Portugal The Man hit ''Feel It Still''. The song became number one, and garnered the band a 2018 Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

In April 2018, Universal Music Publishing Group signed Taccone to a global administration deal.

Reception

''The Guardian'' calls Taccone "a strutting junior Jagger with an androgynous falsetto prepared to front EG's tunes with as much gall as it takes."Lester, Paul (March 7, 2012)
"Electric Guest (No 1,223)"
''The Guardian''. Retrieved February 25, 2016.

Discography

With Electric Guest

* '' Mondo'' (2012)
* ''Plural'' (2017)
* ''Kin'' (2019)

Production

Songwriting for media

Collaborations with the Lonely Island

* ''Saturday Night Live'' (2005–2008) – composer/additional music; 17 episodes
*'' Hot Rod'' (2007) – songwriter
* ''Incredibad'' (2009) – The Lonely Island
* ''MacGruber'' (2010) – additional instrumentations; film
* " Motherlover" (2011) – from The Lonely Island album ''Turtleneck & Chain''
* ''The Wack Album'' (2013) – The Lonely Island
* ''7 Days in Hell'' (2015) – music consultant; TV film
* '' Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (Original Soundtrack)'' (2016) — The Lonely Island

Composition for theater and film

*'' Bridge and Tunnel'' (2006) – music
*''Taking Over'' (2009) – music
*''Lemony Snicket’s The Composer Is Dead'' (2010) – film underscoring
* ''American Dad'' (2011–2020) – composer/voice actor; 7 episodes
* ''Neal Brennan: 3 Mics'' (2017) – composer

Awards

*2009 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics – "Dick in a Box"HBO staff (October 21, 2009)
"HBO Tops 59th Creative Arts Emmys, NBC Leads Nets"
HBO.com. Retrieved March 1, 2016.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taccone, Asa
1983 births
American indie rock musicians
American people of Dutch descent
American people of German descent
American people of Finnish descent
American people of Italian descent
American people of Puerto Rican descent
Living people
Musicians from Berkeley, California